Foot-guard.



H. F. DAVIS.

FOOT GUARD.

APPLIOATION TILED APR. 19, 1913.

1,092,246. Patented Apr. 7, 1914 Qwuwtoz H -F- Dmns UNI E STATES PATENT QFFICE.

HERBERT FRANCES DAVIS, OF CUMBERLAND CENTER, MAINE.

FOOT-GUARD.

This invent-ion relates to new and useful improvements in foot guards or blocks for railway switches, switch frogs, guard rails and the like, the object of the invention being to improve and simplify the construction and operation of devices of this character and thereby render them more eflicient in operation and also adapt the same for use between rails disposed at various angles to each other.

Another object of the invention is to provide a foot guard of the above character which will possess advantages in points of efficiency and durability, is inexpensive of manufacture and at the same time is simple in construction and operation.

With the above and other objects in view, this invention consists in the novel features of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, pointed out in the claims and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of a foot guard constructed in accordance with my invention taken along the line 33 of Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the same line as Fig. 1, illustrating the action of a deep flanged wheel upon one of the side members of the foot guard. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of my foot guard.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 and 2 indicate two converging track rails between which my improved foot guard 3 is mounted. The guard itself comprises the two parallel arranged converging bars 4, one end of which is connected to the transverse pieces 5 and the other ends thereof suitably connected to the cross piece 6. The

ends of the bars a are inclined at an angle with respect to the body portions of the bars,

as shown at 7 and the body portions of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 19, 1913.

Patented Apr. 7, 1914.

Serial No. 762,340.

cured to the transverse piece 9 and the outer end thereof bent outwardly with respect to the body, as shown at 10 and secured to the ties by means of a screw, bolt, or other suitable fastening means.

It will be apparent that in the'construction of my improved foot guard, the bars 4: are to be made of resilient material so that 1n case a deep flange strikes the same, it will, after the wheel has passed over the same, spring back to its normal position. The ends of the foot guard are formed inclined, as shown at 7, so that loose brake rods, shoes, etc., dragging upon the cars will be thrown off instead of catching upon the guard and tearing the same loose from its position. It will be apparent that the guard itself may be quickly removed from between the rails 1 and 2 by removing the screw, bolt or other fastening means from the outwardly bent portion 10. It will also be apparent that the same may be quickly arranged between the rails and inserted beneath the flange thereof so that the same will be held securely in position.

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be readily apparent that I have provided a simple and durable foot guard for track rails which simplifies the construction and operation of devices of this character thereby rendering the same more efficient in operation. It will also be apparent that the same is especially adapted for use between rails disposed at various angles to each other. It will also be apparent that the device in itself is extremely simple in construction and can be manufactured at a comparatively low cost.

While I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, it will be obvious that various changes in the details of construction and in the proportions may be resorted to for successfully carrying my invention into practice without sacrificing any of the novel features or departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. A foot guard including a pair of spaced resilient bars converging throughout their entire length, transverse cross pieces securing the ends of said bars and means for securing said bars to the railroad ties.

2. A foot guard including spaced converging bars, transverse pieces connecting said bars at their intermediate portions and at a point adjacent their ends, and a central bar having one end secured to the intermediate transverse piece, the other end of said central bar being rigidly secured to the railroad tie.

3. A foot guard including spaced converging bars, cross pieces connecting said bars at their intermediate portions and at a point adjacent their ends, and a third bar ar-, ranged in parallel relation and disposed between the side bars, said third bar having one end rigidly secured to railroad ties and Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

its other end secured to the intermediate cross piece, said side bars being disposed beneath the tread of the rail and of sufficient resiliency so that the same will give and return to its normal posit-ion after a deep flange has passed over the same. 7

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. HERBERT FRANCES DAVIS. Witnesses: ELLEN M. LAWRENCE, JAMES LAWRENCE.

Washington, D. O. 

